Tanker loses oil into area river

A truck driver was injured and U.S. Coast Guard and Michigan DEQ personnel were scrambling Wednesday to clean up a spill of used cooking oil after a two-vehicle accident.

By MIKE FORNESmike@cheboygantribune.com

A truck driver was injured and U.S. Coast Guard and Michigan DEQ personnel were scrambling Wednesday to clean up a spill of used cooking oil after a two-vehicle accident.US 31 was closed overnight after a northbound semi truck rolled over about 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation and reports that the accident scene was on US-31, just south of M-68, in Alanson.“A northbound semi truck, driven by Randy Lampros, 48, of Allegan, Mich., attempted to avoid a collision with a northbound pickup truck, driven by Robert Harmon, 64, of Allenton, Mich.,” Sheriff Peter Wallin said in a news release. “The trucks came in contact with each other, causing the semi truck to roll over. The semi truck was carrying used cooking oil, which was spilled, and eventually made its way into the storm drains that empty into the Crooked River.”Wallin said the cooking oil is the type that is collected from restaurants that store it after preparing meals. He said the driver estimated that approximately 12,000 to 13,000 pounds of used cooking oil was spilled onto the roadway.“Currently the Crooked River Lock is closed to keep boaters out of the contaminated area,” Wallin added.According to Wallin, the driver of the semi, Lampros, was transported to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital at Petoskey. Wallin described the injuries as “not life-threatening.”The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Michigan State Police, U.S. Coast Guard, Michigan DEQ, Alanson Fire Department, Emmet County Road Commission, Allied EMS, and the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division. The accident remains under investigation.